Rotary engine.



F. H. CARSON.

ROTARY ENG|NE.

APPLICATION man OCT. 21, 1913.-

Patented Feb. 15,1916! 6 SHEETS-SHEE1"1.

F. H. CARSON,

ROTARY ENGINE 'M PucAfloN FILEDDCT. 21. 1913. I

Patented Feb. 15, 1916.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3'.

- gwvenf o1- H. CARSON. ROTARY ENGINE. urucmou FILED QCT. 27. I913.

Patented Feb; 15,1916.

6 SHEETS SHEET 6.

To all whom/ it 1 ay concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK H. CARSON, a citizen of the United States, residin at Loana, in the county of Hennepin and tate' of lVisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to steam engines and more particularly to a rotary steam engine such as is commonly known as turbines, and the primary object of the invention is the provision of a rotary engine which is constructed so as to economically utilize :steam and avoid dead-points in the rotation of the rotors.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a novel form of governing mechanism which regulates the inlet of steam into the steam chamber in accordance with the speed with which the rotors-travel.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of abutmentplates which all-- tomatically enter into and recede from the interior of the steam chamber during the rotation of the rotor, so sgflto prevent back 1 action of the steam within tlie chamber.

With the foregoing and otherobjects in View, this invention consists in such novel.

features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will-be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the ac companying drawings and claimed. y In describing this invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate like orcorrespo-nding parts throughout the several views,- and in which,

.Figure 1 is an end elevation of the" improved engine; Fig. 2 is. aside elevation of.

the improved engine showing the governing .mechanism in difierent positions vtothat shown iii-Fig. 1; Fig; 3 is a side elevation of the engine showing the side opposite to that shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a central sectional View on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is.

a cross sectional View on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a cross'sectional view on the line 6- 6 of Fig.2; Fig. 7 is a detailed perspective View of the valve controlling the inlet of steam, and Fig. 8 is a detailed cross. sectional View.

Referring more particularly to the drawings 1 designates the bed plate of theeiigine which has a plurality of upstandir 2 brackets iforined thereupon. The brackets 2 haye bearings or boxing's' 3, formed upon Specification of Letters Patent.

and 16.

' no'rA RY ENGINE.

Patented Feb. 15, 1916.

Application filed 0ctober 27, 1913. Serial No. 797,503.

their upper ends in which is rotatably mountedthe driveshaft 4 of the engine.

The drive shaft 1 of the engine extends laterally across the bed plate 1 and base. rotor 5 rigidly mounted thereupon. The rim 6 of the rotor 5 moves in the opening '1 7 which is formed 'in the inner side of the steam casing or chest 8. The steam casing or chest 8 is circular in planand substantially circular in cross section being composed of two sections 9 and 10 which have I annular flanges 11 and 12 formed upon their innersurface. The two sections 9 and 10 fare securely connected together, by means of bolts 13 which are inserted through openings in the annular flanges 11 and 12. The section 9 of the steam casing of the engine is supported by a web 14which is formed integral-With the bed plate 1 and with the section'9.

The rotor 5 has piston heads 15 and 16 securely attached thereto in any suitable 'manner and disposed directly opposite each other as is clearly showniin Fig. 4 of the drawings. Securelyattached to one side of each of the piston heads 15 and 16 are follow plates 17. Both of the' piston heads 15 and 16 are rovided with cut out portions 18 forme in their outer ends, which engage the inner'surface of the outer side of the steam chest '8 and the cut out portions 18 have metallic plates 19 mounted therein which metallic plates serve to absorb the wear occasioned by the continuous rotation of the rotor 5 and the piston heads 15 The casing each other which projections are provided with circular shaped openings 22 extending laterally therethrough and with other circu lar shapedopeningsfll'fi extending longitu'r dina lly therein and con imunicatingwith thelaterally extending openings 22. Valve 8 has projeo'tionsQO and 21 formed thereupon and directly opposite to 106 members 24 are rotatably mounted-'- upon pins 25 which extend laterally through pro-.5

jections: 21 and 22. j The valve members 24' hzwe a portion of theirsurfaces cut away,

5 drawings. The portion of, the valve memas is clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 7 of the bers 24 which is cut away, forms a means of communication between the openings 23' and the openings-26 which pass through the projections 21' and 22 communicating with the openings 22 and with .the interiorv of the casing 8.- The valve members 24 fit firmly and snugly within the openings 22 and when the portions thereof which are cut away, are not in communication with the openings 26, a fluid tight valve or stoppage for the air through the openings 22 is formed.

The projectionsQO and 21 have pipes 27 and 28 connected thereto, the openings in I which communicate withthe openings 23.

necessary 2 blades or abutment plates and 33 'slidaspringsll mounted;thereabout and between i 40 My seated therein.- The abutment plates 32 and 33 have rods 34 detachablyconnected to one end thereof which rods extend out wardly .thro'ugh bearings formed upon the ends of the-auxiliary casings and 31 and are slidably seated in bearings 36 which are formed upon the outer ends of'arms 37. The arms 37 are securedgin any suitable manner to the ag'igiliary casings 31 and 30. The rods 34 extend outwardly through the bearings 36, and have ctiilsprings 38 mounted thereabout'which coil springs abut pins which are inserted through the ends of the rods The rods '31 have. pivotally connected thereto as at '38 arms 39 which are in turn pivotally connected at 40 to the arms 41. The arms 41 are pivotally connected, by means of pins 42 to brackets 43 which-are carried by the casing 8. ,The pins 42 are rotatably-journaled in a pair of brackets 43, as isclcarly shown in Fig. 2, and have coil one of the brackets 43 and the end of'the arm 41 which is mounted upon the pins 42.

The outer ends of the pins -12 have arms 45 rigidly mounted thereupon or formed inteQ 'graltherewith as is desired. The extreme outer ends of the. arms 45 are bifurcated and rollers 46 are mounted within the bifurcations of the arms. The rollers 46, engage.

at predetermined times, cams or lugs 47 which are mounted upon one side of therim of the .rotor .5. The camsor lugs 47 have their surfaces extending outwardly. at an incline so that when the rollers 46 engage their surfaces and pass thereupon the arms 45 and the rods 42 will be moved or partially rotated within the brackets 43'. This partial rotation of the pins 42 will in turn operate the arms 41 andtlQ moving the rods 34 outwardly, as is shown in the lower positio'nin Fig. 1 of the-drawings, causing the 1 abutment'plates'32 01-33 to move or recede into the auxiliary casings'3Q or 31, thus providing a clear path for the piston heads 15: or

1'6. lIr nmedlately after the piston heads 15 or 16.ha e passed the abutment plates 32 or liherollers 46 will have passed over the the projections 20 and 21, arms 50. The

arms 50 extend inwardly toward the drive shaft 1 of the engine and have rollers 51 rotatably carried. by their 0, ter ends. The

arms 50 have also secured tiereto as at 52.

one end of flat springs which are secured' to the casing 8-as at-5-L. The springs 53, tend to hold the 31111350 in a position so that the cut out portions of the valve members 24. willcommunicatc with the openings and-26 allowing the passage of steam therethrough and' into the interior of the casing 8.

surfacesof cams The camsfi55 have arms 56 pivotally connected thereto as'at 57. The

arms 56 areprovided with slots 58 formed therein near the point 57. which slots have 'The rollers 51 are engaged by't he outer '90 pins 59 slidably seated therein.- The pins 50 are securely'attached to thearms or spokes (i0 of'the rotor 5. The arms 56 are again pivotally connected at 61 to the short arms 62 which are formed upon arms 63. The arms 63 are pivotally connected at 64 to the spokes (iOof the rotor 5 and haveweights 66 adjustably mounted upon one end there; of. The arms (33 have arms or links 67 pivotallyconne cted to their ends opposite to the ones upo-nwhich the weights 66 are mounted whichv links are in tui'n pivotally connected to'the cams 55., 7 These various arms and the cams, together with the rollers 51 and the arms 50 form a governing mechanism forthe speed of the engine in that when the speed with which the rotor 5 rotates into move outwardly upon the pins 59 and thus straighten out or force the arms 67 outwardly also..'- The moving outwardly of the "arms 56 and 67 will in turn force the cams 55 outwardly. The forcing outwardly of the cams 55 will in turn force the arms 50 downwardly against the tension of the springs 53 and will partially rotate the valve creases, therotation will cause the arms 56 I members 24 closing, to a small'extent, the

communicating opening between the openings 23 and'2'6 thus regulating the amoun of steam which enters the steam chamber. The casing 8 is rovided with openings 7 0 formed therein, a jacent the abutment plates '32 which openings communicate with pipes 71, and form exhaust ports for the engine. Rods 72 and springs 73 form a device the purpose of which is to catch or hold the abutment plate against the rotor 5 to prohibit the escape of steam between them. The springs 73 presses the pin or shaft against the shoe which holds the abutment firmly against when the valve is across the path at the piston.

plates will alternately recede from and 'move tions of the piston heads 5 and 16 as is neces into the casing 8, during the difierent posisary for the operating of the engine. This engine will run with one piston 15, one cutofc' valve 24,and one abutment plate 32. The

reason for two sets of valves and two'pistons is..to reduce friction on the line shaft.

Retaining valve or abutment plate 33 will be open all thetime-except when 32 is withdrawutopermit the piston to pass at that p instant-.7 In engines of'this type the economy of steam depends greatly on the expansion andltherefore in this engine the steam will be shutoff before the valyje 33 closes. There is a small amount'of power required to oper-' I atefthe valve 33 .butthis'iis compensated-for the'f piston when the valve': must withpiston "in its path as wit v i us:

the'steam wou escape jb hind (it when 32 in the foregoingrdescription taken ion and of the vi ra l t o those e1 this invention foregoing decri e teg th r 1 v aa l ruction; t s

to be A} mi iiblf fea' j i is iqma ,hin meande rane at of p s m y ba ait r d' u practical" conditions provided isuch .altera-i tions arecomprehended Within thefscop'e; Iof; a v claimed is;

W t is claim d,

1. In rotary-engine, the combination,-of

. a -casing, a rotor, auxiliary-casings formed upon said' j'cas1ng",.abutting plates slidably' adapted to tbeainoved'into "orifo'utof said tioris and carriedqbysaid rotor, saidit i ti mounted in said au xilia-ry acasingsjand aging, rods enacted totsaid abutting 2 Fd i i, y oi'lby r connected tov s aid rods, eke fi tyrmednp n Sam n s ng, P carried by sa1d=jfbraekets,-'arms connected to.

said pins, said arms having their free ends bifurcated, rollers seated 1n said bifurcaadapt engage said rotors 'and rms' for moving "said, abutp auxiliary easings;

a a sing a rotary engine, the combination, of

lscription', -vthe .;p the operation of 4 1' rotonauxiliary casings formed 1 mounted in said auxiliary casings and adapted to be moved into or out of said casing, rods connected to said abutting plates, a plurality oflevers connected to said rods, brackets formed upon said casing, pins carried-by said brackets, arms connected to said pins, said arms having their free ends bifurcated, rollers seated in said bifurcations and cams carried by said rotor, said cams adapted to engage said rotorsand operate said arms for moving said abutment plates out of said casing and into said auxiliary casings and means for automatically moving said abutment plates into said casing after said rollers have passed over said cams.

3. In a rotary engine, the combination of a casing,'inlet valves carried by said casing, a rotor, auxiliary casings formed upon said casing, abutting plates slidably mounted in said auxiliary casings and adapted to move into or out of said casing, rods connected to said abutting plates, a plurality of levers connected to said rods, brackets formed upon .said casing, pins carried by said;brackets, arms connected to said pins, said arms having their free ends'bifurca'ted, rollers seated in ,7 H said bifurcations and cams carried by said .must'withdra'vge2rcept tor the use of 33 closjbehindifi 20,;

rotor, said cams adapted to engage said rotors and operatesaid arms for moving f'said abutment plates out of said casing and into said auxiliarycasings, means for automati'cally moving said I abutting plates into said casing after said rollers have passed over said cams, and means controlled by the rotation of said rotor for regulating the passageof steam through said inlet.

[said rotor having a-rim and spokes, piston headslconnected 'to' the rim of said rotor, 'inletvalves for said casing, arms connected :itohaid inlet valves, rollers carried by said =arins, springs connected to said arms and saidicasing, arms slidably connected to some connected'to other spokes of said rotor, said .weights carried-by one the ends of said 4 111 a rotary engine a casing, arotor,

lofjthe spokesof' said rotor, arms pivotally arms, iinhs'pivotally connected to the other ends o'fsaid arms and to said earns, said cams adapted to engage said rollers for regulating the inlet valves.

5. In a rotary of a casing,: inlet valves carried by said casing, 1 a rotor, auxiliary casings formed passagebf steam through said engine, the combination upon said-casing, abutting. plates slidably mounted in said auxiliary casi rod s connected saidl abutting plates, at

and

plur ity-d v racqim e o s r Y brackets: tormed uponfsiaid casing, pins' carried by said brackets; arms connected to sad in's, ,saidarms having their free ends bita rcatedflrollers. seated in said bifurcasaid Iarms'andsaid casing and means cartions and cams carried by said rotor,'-"said cams adapted to' engage said rotors and operate. said arms for moving said abutm'ent plates out of said casing and into said auxiliary casings, means for automatically moving said abutting plates into said casing after saidfrollers have .passed over said 1 cams, .sai'd rptor havinga rim and spokes,

arms ndlineeted to said inlet valves, rollers carried by said arms, springs connected to ried by said rotor for engaging said rollers and operating said arms for controlling the passage of steam through said inlet valves." a

' "of a';casing, inlet valves carriedb easing, a rotor, auxiliary casings ormed 6. In a rotary engine, the combination said upon said casmg, abutting plates slidably mounted in said auxiliary casings and' adapted to move into or out of said casing, rods connected to said abutting plates, a plurality bifurcali ed, rollers seated in said bifurcations and cams carried by said rotor-,1 said 1 i second named arms,

of levers connected tosaid rods, bracket'sqformed upon said easing, pins carried by said brackets, arms connected to a said pii'is {said arms having their free ends cams adapted to engage said rotors and operate said arms for moving said abutment.

plates'fiout of saidcasing and into said auxiliary casings, means for automatically moving said abutting plates into said casing after said rollers have passed over said cams, said rotor having a rim and spokes,

arms connected to said inlet valves, rollers .Connected to the other ends of said arms and to said cams, said cams adapted to engage said'rollers forregulating the passage of steam through said inlet valves.

In testimon "whereof -I afli'x my signature in presence o tWo-a vitnesses,

g FRANK fa.- CARSON Witnesses; I EDWARD -W. BAKER,

JACK AnAMs. 

